A tiny college in the mountains sent a tiny woman halfway across the world to India for almost three months, and she came back with a huge idea.

"That's where I was first introduced to the rickshaw," 36-year-old Asheville Bike Taxi owner Jessie Lehmann said. "There they have bicycle rickshaws and hand-pulled rickshaws (and gasoline powered). There you will definitely find more rickshaws on the road than cars a lot of the times. It's a fun way to get around there.

"Asheville didn't have any service like this," she said. "Also, with the growing amount of visitors, and a late night bar scene, I figured this would be a good way and a fun thing to bring to Asheville."

Plus, Lehmann gets to use her Warren Wilson College environmental philosophy degree.

"This is a new way to practice some of the things I worked on in school."

The 5-foot-tall rickshaw lady is a curious sight chugging up the hills of downtown Asheville, pedal-powering three or four people to drum circles, restaurants, bars, hotels and Pack Square, among other busker hangouts.

It's a modern day urban rickshaw pulled by a smiling woman on a bicycle with an infectious cheeriness, optimism and glow. She has many friends who keep a safe eye on her.

"Me being such a little woman, I want everybody to know that this bike and myself can get you around town," Lehmann said.

"I've been putting signs up saying 'electric-assisted.' That, along with my powerful legs, can get up to 800 pounds around Asheville. People see me chugging up the hill, and say 'How are you doing it?' I don't want passengers to feel bad about riding in my cab, so I try not to sweat too much or work too hard. I take breaks."

Pedicab drivers can be like bartenders and cosmetologists. They get a feel for the social experience customers want — and give it to them.

"Some passengers want to ask questions," she said. "Some want to talk among themselves. And some want a little romantic moment. Some children are afraid to get in, but later they don't want to get out."

It's a fun, people-friendly job, suited for Lehmann's shining personality. But taxi driving has its dangers. Not knowing who is in your cab and navigating downtown on weekend nights can be tricky. On weekends Patton Avenue, Pack Square and Biltmore Avenue are jammed with cars and people.

"You never know who you are going to pick up," she said. "But so far this past season, I've maybe had one instance of weirdness. Other than that, I've had nothing but fun, interesting and nice people that I've been picking up. And I have all these friends all over town who end up watching over me, yelling, 'Hey Jesse!' How's it going?' So I feel like I have good support in Asheville."

One Friday, she parked at a crowded Pritchard Park looking for fares and chatting with friends and the curious. People drumming and dancing at the Drum Circle created a rumbling din of tribal music, community voices and an energized atmosphere. A vendor rushed up and handed her a free, fresh-made lemonade.

This venue is one of her hotspots, along with Pack Square, for finding riders and catching up friends and downtown regulars.